The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. L V P J Ricks

Leo Patrick Vincent Ricks was born on 20th December 1921 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. He went to England in 1938 to join the Royal Navy but a defect in his left eye made him unacceptable and he joined the RAF instead, enlisting on 26th September 1938 as a Boy Entrant. He later remustered as an Airman u/t WOp/AG.

235 Squadron Bircham Newton 5th October 1940. Photograph taken from the port wing of Blenheim N3530.

Rear row (L to R): Adjutant F/O A Pinnock (not BoB), P/O AW Martin, P/O NB Shorrocks, Sgt. PF Hall, Sgt. WHJ Westcott, Sgt. LPVJ Ricks (Canadian), Sgt. KE Naish.

Front row (L to R): S/Ldr. RN (Neville-) Clarke, P/O LLG Javaux (Belgian), P/O JL Kirkpatrick (Belgian).

(Image courtesy of Andrew Pinnock)

***************

He joined 235 Squadron on 24th April 1940 and served with it until 2nd February 1941 when he went to 3 (Coastal) OTU as an instructor.

From 27th November 1941 until 15th May 1942 Ricks was serving with 2 AACU. He then went to 7 (Coastal) OTU until March 1943 when he joined 86 Squadron, a general reconnaissance unit.

After serving with a GCA unit from August 1944, Ricks transferred to the RCAF on 14th February 1945 and returned to Canada, where he was commissioned.

Ricks retired from the RCAF in 1964 as a Flying Officer.

He went to live in Ireland in January 1969 and he died there on 8th January 1985.